It had been a week after Kyo's trial. I was doing laundry and everybody was out, including Shigure. Yuki was at a student government meeting, Kyo was at Kazuma's dojo, and Shigure... I wasn't quite sure what Shigure was doing. He barely left the house, and it was usually for a new book publishing. But from what I had gathered, Shigure hadn't even started his book yet. (Which was so like Shigure).

After putting in a load of clothes in the washing machine, I opened my book and began to read. Before I could finish the sentence I was reading, someone knocked at the door.

I hurriedly ran to the door and opened it. It was Botan. "Oh, Tohru! So nice to see you!" He began to laugh.

I got his joke and meekly chuckled. It was creepy how he knew it was me.

"I'm sorry, but Shigure isn't here right now, but I can tell him you came by," I said to him.

He laughed again. "Oh no, we wanted to see you."

Before I could reply, I gave him a confused look. 'We'?

Botan pulled on something, which I saw was an arm, and out from the shadows came a man. He was looking down in what seemed like sheepish guilt. He was a younger version of Shigure...

I gasped. "It's you!"

It was the man that had saved me from the evil Ryouichi.

I rushed out of the kitchen and poured both Botan and my rescuer some tea. I sat down across from them, and began to sip my own tea. Botan was still smiling, while the other just kept looking down, intent on the steam of his tea. Botan nudged him with his elbow. "My friend still needs to introduce himself."

The other didn't look up and continued to gaze at the steam. After a few minutes I spoke. "I... I'm Tohru. I forgot to introduce myself too, so don't feel bad." A few more moments of silence ensued. Before I got up to refill my cup, he spoke quietly, "It's Hisoka."

I smiled at him. "It's nice to meet you Hisoka."

Botan leaned across the table. "You're quite the charmer. It's rare to make him talk. I think he likes you."

Hisoka glared at Botan and I blushed. He gave Botan a punch... and sent him flying across the room.

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay?" I rushed over to Botan's side.

Botan picked up his glasses that had fallen off during his launch. He smiled. "That was fun!"

I helped Botan up and led him back to his seat. As I sat down, I asked them, "So, why did you guys need to see me?"

Botan glanced at Hisoka. "We... We're here to protect you," Hisoka murmured.

"From what!" I asked, now scared that someone or thing was after me.

Botan sighed. "Tohru, how many signs are there in the zodiac?"

I thought for a moment. "There's twelve."

Botan shook his head. "No. That's what a lot of people think. Like in your family, there is an outcast. He is the thirteenth sign, called: Ophiuchus. The Snake-Bearer. He was the strongest and smartest of all the signs. Now why do you think he was cast out?"

I paused, thinking of the Great Race story, for the East zodiac. "Was he tricked?"

Botan quietly chuckled. "I guess you could put it like that... But, would you call love a trick?"

I thought for a moment. "N... No."

"Then let me tell you a story..."

"Once long ago, God invited the Thirteen to a feast. The day they were supposed to go, all Thirteen left for the perilous journey to God's castle. On the way, the mighty Snake-Bearer saw a beautiful. He stayed behind and tried to charm the girl, but to no avail."

"When the Twelve got there, God blessed them with special gifts. When he saw one of them was not there, he grew mad and ordered Ophiuchus to be brought to the castle. Ophiuchus was brought, and pleaded for mercy, and explained what had happened. After hearing this, God cast out Ophiuchus and set a curse on him. He would be reincarnated, like the rest of his brothers and sisters, and each reincarnation would fall in love with a girl, that would be his downfall."

As Botan finished his story, something clicked in my mind. "I... I'm that girl. I'm the one to bring down Ophiuchus."

Botan nodded. "Except... it's not going to be that easy."

"What do you mean?"

"You know how Akito is your 'God'?" Hisoka said quietly. I nodded.

"Well... when the bond with the Eastern zodiac was broken... the bond with the Western was weakened as well. It's allowed Ophiuchus to grow more powerful and dangerous. Eventually leading to his breaking of the curse."

I swallowed. "Wh... What do you want me to do?"

"That's the thing. We don't know-"

Botan was interrupted as an arrow whistled by his face and into the wall.